Hydrostatic auxiliary starting means for torpedoes



Aug. 3 s. R. HICKEY 1,971,346

HYDROSTATIC AUXILIARY STARTING MEANS FOR TORPEDOES Filed Nov. 8, 1952 Z W 5, dad I y amvw y.

Patented Aug. 28, 1934 HYDRQ STATEC AUXILIARY STARTING MEANS FOR TQRPEDOES (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as'

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This invention relates to a hydrostatic auxila iary starting means for torpedoes and has for its objectto provide a mechanism for setting in operation the'main engine of a torpedo in case of 45 failure of the trip-latch to function, or if the torpedo, for'any reason, does not start upon launching, whereby the air, fuel and water in the torpedo will be consumed, giving the torpedo positive buoyancy so that it will rise to the surface of the water where it may be recovered.

With the above and other objects in' view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be described more fully hereinafter.

The drawing is a sectional view of one embodiment of my invention.

, As is well known, the valve that controls the supply of compressed air to drive the main engine of a torpedo is held closed by a body of air under high pressure acting upon theuppersurface of the valve. When the torpedo is launched, a triplatch in the torpedo tube actuates a starting gear to release the air from the top of the starting valve which permits that valve to open and allows the high pressure air to fiow into the main engine to drive the torpedo. In some cases the triplatch may not function and the starting valve is not open, under which conditions the fuel and Water in the torpedo are not consumed andthe torpedo sinks. As it is very desirable that allpractice torpedoes be-recovered, this invention has been made to insure that the fuel and water in the torpedo be consumed to give the torpedo positive buoyancy so it will come to the surface and be picked up. 1 a

In my device the pipe 1 is connected into the pipe between the top of the starting valve and the starting gear. Release of the air from above the starting valve through pipe 1 is normally pre vented by a septum 2 of copper or other material strong enough to withstand the pressure, but readily rupturable, disposed between a cylinder 3 and pipe 1 which is coupled thereto. Slidably mounted in cylinder 3 is 'a piston l having a corrugated point 5 directed toward septum 2. .Connected to cylinder .3 is a member 6 having in it a chamber '7 in communication with the bore of cylinder 3 and which is: adapted to receive a cartridges. When cartridge 8, which is a blank and preferably of .38 caliber, is fired, piston 4 is driven forward so that point 5 punctures septum 2 and releases the air from above the starting valve which permits ingress of air to the'main 5 engine of the torpedo. Cartridge 8 is retained in chamber 7 by a member 9 engaged with member 6, member 9 having in it an aperture 10 'i'iialignment with the primer or cartridge 8.

Secured to member 9 is a firing pin and trig ger supporting element 11. Firing pin- 12 is piv- 6 otally mounted at one end on the element 11 and has at its other end a toe 13; between the pivoted end of the firing pin and toe 13is the pointed portion 1 1 that strikes the primer of the cartridge when the firing pin is released. A; spring 15 has one end engaged with element 11 and the other end engaged with firing pin 12 and is placed under stress so it will tend to drive the firing pin to-' ward cartridge 8. The strength of spring 15 determines the hydrostatic pressure necessary to actuate the firing mechanism. Trigger 16 has one end pivoted between cars 17' depending fromelement 11 and its free end 18 normally disposed between cars 19 on element 11. A sear 20 carrier by trigger 16 adjacent its free end overliestoe 13 of firing pin 12 and normally prevents spring- 15 from moving the firing pin. Accidental actuation of the device before the torpedo is launched is prevented by a safety pin 30, passed through ears r i 19 below the trigger, which pin is withdrawn be- 8W fore the torpedo is fired. I Secured to the port hand hole cover 28 is a cylindrical member 21 whereof the interior is in communication with the exterior, of the torpedo through passages 22. Inside member 21 is a'bellows 23 of light metal and preferably partially evacuated. Secured to the upper side ofbellows 23 is a rod 24 having in it a slot 25 within which the trigger 16 is held by a pin 26 in such manner that the trigger may slide freely in the slot. Leakage of water from the interior of member 21' into the torpedo is prevented by packing 27. The force of spring 15 exerted against firing pin 12 and by the firing pin against sear 20 on trigger 16v prevents compression of bellows 23 until the compressive force exceeds the strength of spring. 15;

When a torpedo is launched and the engine, for any reason, is'not driven, the torpedo will sink due to its load of fuel, air and water. However, if such torpedo is equipped with my invention, as soon as it has sunk to the depth at whichthe hydrostatic pressure exertedupon bellows 2 3 is sufiicient to overcome spring 19, the bellowsfwill contract and draw rod 24 downwardly which will swing trigger 16 on its pivot. Due to the engagement of scar 20 with toe 13, the firing pin 12 will also be rotated on its pivot and spring 15 still further stressed; this will continue until the rotation of the firing pin 12 and of the trigger 16,

which have diiferent centers of rotation, releases toe 13 from sear 20, at which time spring 15 will drive point 14 of the firing pin against the primer of cartridge 8 which will be fired, the force of the explosion driving piston 4 forwardly so that point 5 will rupture the septum 2. When septum 2 has been perforated, the high pressure air from the top of the starting valve will pass through pipe 1 and escape to the passages 29 in cylinder 3. lhis will permit the main engine to be started which will continue to run until all the fuel, air and water have been consumed and the torpedo, thus lightened, will rise to the surface where it may be readily retrieved.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawing comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of my invention, and that various changes in construction, proportion and arrangement of' parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims without sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention. 7

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.

I claim:

him a device of the class described, a pipe, a

, cylinder connected thereto, a soft metal septum disposed between said pipe and said cylinder to close the passage therethrough, the walls of said cylinder being perforated adjacent said septum, a piston slidable in said cylinder, said piston having a point directed toward the septum, a member connected to said cylinder having a chamber to receive a cartridge, a member to retain the cartridge in said chamber having a perforation aligned with the primer or" a cartridge in said chamber, a firing pin disposed to fire the cartridge pivotally mounted at one end and having a toe at its other end, a spring under stress tending to drive said pin against a cartridge in said chamber, a trigger pivotally mounted at one end and having a portion to engage said toe and restrain movement of the firing pin by said spring, a rod connected to said trigger to be slidable therealong, means defining a chamber through a wall of which said rod is slidable,- and a bellows in said 1 chamber connected to said rod whereby a prededirected toward said septum, means to contain a cartridge in operative relation to said cylinder whereby explosion of a cartridge contained therein will drive said piston through the septum, a pivotally mounted firing pin adapted to fire a cartridge contained in said means, a spring connected to said firing pin to urge said pin against a cartridge in said means, a trigger disposed nor mally to hold said pin away from said cartridge, a rod connected to said trigger to move the trigger interior of the torpedo through through said pipe and said cylinder, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and having a point directed toward said septum, means to contain a cartridge in operative relation to said cylinder whereby explosion of a. cartridge contained therein will drive said piston through the septum, a pivotally mounted firing pin adapted to fire a cartridge contained in said means, a spring connected to said firing pin to urge said pin against a cartridge in said means, a trigger disposed normally to hold said pin away from said cartridge, a rod connected to said trigger to move the trigger and release said firing pin and a compressible bellows connected to said rod whereby a predetermined pressure on said bellows will actuate said rod to move the trigger and release the firing pin.

4. In a device of the class described, a pipe, a septum disposed to seal the opening in said pipe, a pointed piston operatively mounted to be driven to be driven against said septum to puncture said septum, means to contain a cartridge whereof the explosion will so drive said piston, a firing pin pivotally mounted at one end and having a toe at its other end, a spring tending to move said pin against the primer of a cartridge in said means, a trigger pivotally mounted and having a portion releasably engaging said toe and hydrostatically operable means to move said trigger and release said firing pin at a predetermined pressure.

5. In a device of the class described, a pipe, a septum disposed to seal the opening through said pipe, a tubular member coaxial with said pipe likewise sealed by said septum, a pointed piston operatively mounted in said tubular member to be driven against said septum to puncture said septum, the wall of said tubular member being perforated to permit escape of fluid from said pipe after rupture of said septum, means to contain an explosive whereof the explosion will so drive said piston, a firing pin operatively mounted to cause the explosion of said device, means tending to move said firing pin toward said explosive device and hydrostatically operable means to release said firing pin for movement toward said explosive device at a predetermined pressure.

6. In a device of the class described, a pipe, a septum disposed to seal said pipe, means adapted to rupture said septum, a tubular guide for said means also sealed by said septum and having apertures through its wall to permit escape of fluid from said pipe after rupture of said septum means to contain an explosive to actuate the first mentioned means, means to fire the explosive in said second" mentioned means, and means hydrostatically operable at a predetermined pressure to actuate said firing means.

STOCKARD R. IHCKEY. 

